alimony
AL-ih-moh-nee
/ˈæl.ɪ.moʊ.ni/
A court-ordered financial allowance paid by one spouse to the other after a legal separation or divorce.
Alimony specifically refers to post-divorce spousal support, distinct from child support, and is historically rooted in providing sustenance to a non-earning spouse.
The story behind the word. Alimony comes from the Latin word 'alimonia', meaning 'sustenance' or 'nourishment', which in turn derives from 'alere', meaning 'to nourish'. Historically, because women could not easily own property or work, the law required the husband to continue providing 'nourishment' even after the marriage dissolved.
Word relationships
- spousal support: Spousal support is a more modern, gender-neutral legal term often used interchangeably with alimony.
- maintenance: Maintenance is often used in British and Commonwealth jurisdictions to cover both spousal and child support.
Commonly confused with
- child support: Alimony is paid strictly for the support of the former spouse, whereas child support is paid specifically for the upbringing of the children.
Word family
- alimonial (adjective): Relating to alimony or spousal maintenance.
Collocations
- pay alimony
- receive alimony
- alimony payments
- lump-sum alimony
Example sentences
- "He had to pay her alimony, of course, and the lawyer had made a very good bargain for her." A classic literary depiction of post-divorce financial negotiations.
- "The judge ruled that his alimony obligations would terminate if his former spouse remarried." A modern legal dispute over spousal support.
Memory hook
Think of 'alimony' as 'all-the-money' you have to pay to keep your ex-spouse 'nourished' and supported. Alimony = Nourishment money.
When not to use
Do not use alimony to describe child support payments or informal financial gifts given during a relationship.
Fun facts
- The root 'alere' (to nourish) also gives us 'alma mater' (nourishing mother) and 'alimentary' (as in the alimentary canal).
Related words
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